Scottish ride outs whats your say

[roddy]

Though I haven't organised any ride outs, I have done similar things in the past for other activitys and even though we're all big boys and girls and go on these scoots on our own freewill, you still feel a sense of responsibilty if something goes pear shaped.

So I would like to add my support and encouragement to all those that do organise these wee scoots, the SS is all the better for it

 

[AndyT]

I'm planning to organise a ride out for the Aberdeenshire Area when I get back from Offshore. To be honest I'll post a proposed route of what I'll be taking but the most important bit as HRH says is the lunchtime meeting point as people may come from all over the place. We are all big boys now and can make our way to a destination on our own or smaller groups. Its great fun to have a bit of banter over lunch and stop somewhere for a few photies. For my ride out I plan to name a day and destination. It seems to get complicated when you ask people where and when they fancy going rather than the Steptoe approach of "This is how it is"...

I've been on loads of Ride outs using the drop off system which works well if people understand it. The only downside was when a few of us were left in Tipp but we won't mention that one again

Just my tuppence

 

[Mr K]

Been on a few runs (Not SS organised) where folk all say they know the drop-off system, but as soon as you set off, it's plain they do not and have said otherwise not to "lose face"...

I'm not a huge fan of riding in bigger groups and too many "rules" spoil anything....

 

[G.C.]

Group rides are fraught with danger.
Riding with a few mates is usually great fun, I’m much more relaxed and get the impression they are as well. Nothing worse than being tense riding ma bike. I only ride for fun and I want to enjoy it so I’m in agreement with the majority that a meeting point for lunch/coffee is much better.
This said, I usually arrange a wee off road ride around Easter, Il put a post up soon
Remember these are Scottish meets, we come from all corners of the country, usually meeting somewhere central. 200/400 miles on a run is more than enough for me.

I've seen some feckin scarey ones

I’ve seen that too and more importantly been guilty of behaving like that.
I didn’t see the car crashing into the wall though, too busy accelerating out of trouble. This confession will self destruct in 55 minutes !

 

[Klanky]

I'm not very confident riding in groups.

The only previous experiences I have had was quite a few years back and frankly the experiences put me off riding with more than a couple of bikes. There were too many present who were out to 'prove' just what gods they really were. Not a very good time was had by me. TBH I wasn't confident at the Blair Atholl meet that I'd be happy with the group ride...but I soon changed my mind. I didn't feel pressured like I used to with other groups.

Garfield, you have my sympathy, I'm sure no-one attaches any blame to you at all - but the sense of responsibility towards the group is still a heavy weight to carry...and it says a lot about you that you feel this way.

Would I lead a group?
No, I ain't got the confidence...and I know that many of the people I'm riding with (when oot with the SS) are a damn sight more competent than I ever will be. I'd either end up pushing up against my own personal limits so I don't hold the group up....or I'd overcompensate and end up slowing everybody down.

I'm happier at the back, I'll stop if someone's got a problem or 'chase' anyone who appears to have turned wrong. That way the more fluid guys can bat on at their own pace. Not only that, it always impresses me to see a line of my friends on bikes in front of me...and if any of them cock up - I'll probably see it all and be able to take the pish later.

 

[Uinneag]

I’ve seen that too and more importantly been guilty of behaving like that.
I didn’t see the car crashing into the wall though, too busy accelerating out of trouble. This confession will self destruct in 55 minutes !

Forgot about that wan

Oh quotes are indestructable

 

[trickday]

just arranging a meeting point is probably the easiest way to go
takes away all the responsibility, an allows everyone to go their own way/ own speed.
the drop off system is great for larger groups as long as everyone knows how it works, an the back marker KNOWS the route

+1

I think if anyone wants to go on a rideout they should at the very least be on time and have a map of the route if they're no sure [/QUOTE

]
.....

 

[turpin]

New thread so not to Hi-jack yesterday's ride out or Skinnerscotch's threads

I've picked up on one of Garfud's quotes



I know exactly how you feel as there will always be at least one critic usualy one that doesn't organise one themselves and if anything goes wrong you feel an element of responsabilty.

You may have noticed that 99% of the SS feel the same Paul as not many will organise a ride out wether it be a lack of confidence or lazy


I must admit I hate the convoy ride outs I much prefer to meet at a destination have a bite to eat then part.
I find them more dangerous than any other riding I do inc off road and riding abroad.

The person at the front should be more or less ride the slowest on the ride out as in MPH. It's a hard job trying to keep track of up to 20 bikes behind you. The people towards the back are playing catch up. On some of the ride outs I've been on, the front lot have overtaken traffics then the rest have been stuck behind it for some time and then some feel the pressure to overtake at the earlist oppertunity, I've seen some feckin scarey ones as a result the ones at the back are riding much faster than the ones towards the front.

Anyone that complains the pace is too slow can always go on ahead there is not "set in stone" rule that when your on a ride out you need to stay with the group "it's not a club"

Same applies to the ones that think the pace is too fast let the rest bugger off over the horizon you'll catch up eventually as you should know where your going and if you get lost your old enough and ugly enough to find your way by now

I'm still up for organising ride outs as the majority enjoy them and there are so few willing to step up to the plate and organise one.

You may find Paul that everyone enjoyed yesterday and are perfectly willing to go on your next one

This not here to stir shit as all that organise these ride outs are amatuers and should be supported

I totally agree with HRH's comments.

I have led runs for the BMW Club and it is hard work.

The last one had about a dozen 'Northern Section' members staying at Callander and I was asked to 'show them Scotland'.

I prepared maps with emergency telephone numbers and issued them at the start.
We had a briefing at the Hotel Car Park so that everyone knew the route and the rules.
I had a work colleague act as Back Marker - we had worked on the route together so he knew exactly where we were going.
We used the 'drop off' system (the BMW Club are very good at this and it makes a huge difference when there are a lot of bikes).
I always pulled over after a busy intersection to let everyone re-group.
I had contacted lunch venues and tea rooms in advance.
We all made it safely home.

Personally I feel that around eight bikes is my most comfortable maximum number and I really hate large groups (I was once on a John Clarke, Dundee event with 36 bikes - about which the least said the better). I really prefer to ride alone though.

I agreed to organise the run because I had been on a lot of Club runs around the North of England and knew what was expected.

From the sound of it, Garfield did a good job and has nothing to feel bad about, so don't be put off Paul.


Bob.




I have to agree with both Voyager and HRH

I am happier with riding with just one or two fellow bikers and at a pace that I am comfortable with. I feel that the ride can be spoilt if you feel that you have to keep up with the fastest one there.

The run to Campletown was the fastest 'run' with any group of riders that I had undertaken in some 36 years of riding.

I like the idea of meeting for tea, coffee and then meeting again for lunch but doing it at my own pace with the chance to stop and take in the 'views' even if it means that I have to leave home a bit earlier.

The runs that the BMW club organise are well planned with meeting points along the way although I am speaking about events that took place some 25 years ago though I doubt if things have changed that much.

No I would not like to lead a ride my hat goes of to all that do as they must feel some pressure to find a level of riding that meets everyone else's ability, which in turn must take some of the enjoyment out of the day's events.

My only regret is that I cannot get to more of the 'ride outs' if anyone wants to have a ride during the week days then let me know as I have days of during the week depending on what shift I am on


The main thing is not to become a statistic so let us all ride safely and enjoy the day whenever it comes about.

 

[Hebby]

I agree wi a lot of the points made and especially with the precis prepared by HRH.

I have been on lots of different ride outs over the years, and must profess a preference for the smaller group ride to a central point for a cup o tea, type of rendezvous. Makes sense when people are coming from all points of the compass. It also takes a lot of pressure of a Ride Out organiser.
At the end of the day its about having fun safely.

On saying this whilst on hols in Budapest, there was a mass rideout/bikers rally riding through the streets of Budapest yesterday. There must have been about 300 400 bikes of all descriptions from fatboys to scooters. Wish I knew what it was about.

 

[Packer]

Some years ago I foolishly agreed to join a rideout from Glasgow to Oban as part of a charity fund raiser for the air ambulance.

It was an hour late getting underway because so many selfish lumpen clowns turned up late.

When it did start there was the idiot sector who found it necessary to wheelie or test the rev limiter every 10 seconds with the clutch in to "impress" the locals and bystanders.

Within the first quarter mile someone had run into the back of another bike and ended up wrapped around a bollard.

On the Loch Lomond road despite my being over the posted limit someone felt that they could demonstrate their skill by undertaking on a left hander, I'd seen them coming so it wasn't too bad.

In fact by Tyndrum I was so fed up with the standard of riding displayed by some, still having plenty of fuel, I didn't stop and just went directly to the Oban meet point.

There was still one surprise for me though, four guys on sports bikes came past me 5 or 6 miles before Connel travelling seriously fast. I re-passed them about 2 miles east of Connel where at least one of them had dropped it on a greasy left hander under trees and was being assisted by other riders. I later found out that the air ambulance had been called out which probably cost more than was raised by the charity ride.

Makes you proud doesn't it

Having said that I've thoroughly enjoyed a number of rides with other UKGSer's and find that the drop off system is indeed good. If I see that someone has failed to drop from the #2 position I'll do it myself, I still seem to get to where we are going

Garfield, don't beat yourself up because someone had a mishap. There will be plenty of others to do that for you

May there be many more rides and many more new friends.

 

[Chaz]

Loads of good points on this thread, especially for someone who is organising a trip for this year

I like the whole idea of the drop off system inparticular the Boreen run which was mentioned earlier in the thread, although I think that even with the best will in the world it may start well on the first day but with hangovers only getting worse it could well be doomed to fall apart!!! This doesn't mean I won't put it to the group i'm riding with but to be honest i'm in agreement with what appears to be the majority on this, that being rendezvous points

Lets not forget these runs are 'open invite', and the way I interpret that is'.....i'm going on a run, if you want to come you're welcome to join me...!'

As many have put it...'We're all big boys now!', surely we all have to take responsibility for ourselves, which includes:

Familiarising yourselves with the route you are going on

Bringing maps (or GPS) of the route (assuming its been posted)

Bringing some sort of breakdown cover with you on the trip

Having the good sense to travel at your pace knowing that you will undoubtedly meet up at the rendezvous point for lunch

Take yer own midge repellent if you're travelling aboot in Scotland

Take yer own fechin tin/bottle opener

Surely no one is completely responible for anyone else on these runs, that's not to say I wouldn't feel concern for a fallen comrade should he/she break down or have an accident! Of course you would be stopping and helping out if a fellow tosser breaks down....or should I say when a fellow tosser breaks down and of course i'll help out if there is an accident! But i'll be fecked if I will be chasing after someone who has gone in the completely wrong direction to the advertised route! Half the fun is getting lost anyway!!

That said, this may all change after the Scotland trip, if it all goes tits up i'm not sure i'd do it again!! (my tuppence)

 

[boatman]

like most folk (i suspect) there are some days when you just want to go out yerself just to ride alone for one reason or another,there are other days when you appreciate the company. Now im very lucky cos i have 2 riding buds that when we are oot i dont have to worry about what is going on behind because they are good and they wont run up the back o me or hound past unexpected like. I have seen this when riding wi strangers, if i am on the back ye are no having tae look at (fcuck me) that looked close so its quite comfortable . To be honest riding wi goups scares me until you have had enough time wi folk tae suss oot whit like they are (just cos yev got a the gear does not mean they ken what they are doing).i have ridden wi the panclan for years n if ye turn up and its a the regulars n yer doin the drop off its fine but in my experience when you get a large ish group it kin turn intae a shambles very quickly! i suppose tae get to whit HRH started wi
A groups are good when you have had some time together
B drop off is ok if every body really does know how it works n sticks to it
C a meet up is mair relaxing to go to. Some days quick ,some days slow
D being the back rider in a group is hard goin (3 weeks of it oot to east europe last year)
E its good tae come on here n talk wi real bikers that do it and understand the upsides and the down sides o group riding

 

[skinnersscotch]

I really appreciated Garfield organising the run on Saturday and I hope that my off didn't spoil it for anyone. He could not have foreseen that the numpty on the Honda would have a wizard prang in the first 5 miles.

As for leading runs, once I am back on the run and got my new bike I shall be happy to organise something by way of thanks.

I have planned and led runs before so I know how difficult it is to please everyone.

My suggestion would be to supply route and details of stops. Then if people want to g fast, slow or a different route that is up to them. I have tried the leader/tail end charlie thing and it is cymbersome and too restrictive. The clubs that use it tend to like to keep speeds down!

Thanks again to Garfield and everyone else there for their help.

 

[garfield]

As for leading runs, once I am back on the run and got my new bike I shall be happy to organise something

I'm looking forward to this Summer....

 

[Uinneag]

As for leading runs, once I am back on the run and got my new bike I shall be happy to organise something by way of thanks.

I might be busy that day





How you mending pal?